Quick coupling for flexible tube

ABSTRACT

A quick coupling for a flexible tube has an outer annular element with a bayonet connection and a central bore which receives an annular insert having two arcuate sections and holding the flexible tube in place through barbs. The inserts are removable from the outer annular coupling by means of a detent at which point the arcuate sections may be easily removed from the flexible tube.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to couplers and, more particularly, toquick couplings for flexible tubes that may be used in seed planters.

2. Description of the Related Art

An agricultural seeder, such as a row crop planter, places the seed at adesired depth within a plurality of parallel seed trenches (or furrows)formed in soil. In the case of a row crop planter, a plurality of rowcrop units are typically ground driven using wheels, shafts, sprockets,transfer cases, chains and the like, or driven by a hydraulic orelectric motor based on ground speed obtained from electronic sensors.Each row crop unit has a seed metering and distribution mechanism toproperly meter seeds at a predetermined rate and to place the seeds atpredetermined spaced locations and depth. The row crop unit is movablycoupled with a tool bar and includes a mini hopper for seed. The rowcrop planter usually carries a main seed hopper or bulk fill tank whichemploys flexible tubes to distribute seed to the mini hoppers in each ofthe row crop units. The seeds are pneumatically driven along the tubebetween the bulk fill tank and the mini hoppers.

The operating environment for the row crop planter is such that theflexible tubes need to be quickly disconnected from both the bulk filltank and especially the mini hoppers. Quick connect couplings are usedfor this purpose. It is common practice to utilize hose barbs on thequick coupling to positively retain the flexible tube in place. While itis an easy process to install the flexible tube in the coupling, it isproblematic to remove the tube for various maintenance purposes. Thereason is that the hose barbs do not permit removal of the flexible tubefrom the coupling without either heating and or splitting of the tube.This process requires the flexible tube to be shortened if the tube isto be reused in the coupling. After just a few occurrences of thisoperation, the length of the flexible tube may be shortened enough thatit did becomes unusable.

What is needed in the art is a quick coupling that enables removal ofthe flexible tube from the quick coupling and be reused without damageto the tube.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides the ability to reuse a flexible tubeafter removal from a quick coupling.

The invention, in one form, is directed to a quick coupling for aflexible tube. The coupling includes an outer annular coupling elementhaving a quick disconnect attachment feature and a central bore. Anannular insert has at least two arcuate sections connectable to oneanother to form an outer annular surface received within the centralbore. The insert has an inner annular surface having a diameter sized toreceive the end of the flexible tube with the annular insert having atleast one barb element formed on the interior surface and oriented toresist removal of the tube. The outer annular surface of the insert andthe central bore of the outer annular coupling element cooperate to forma detent for removable retention of the insert and the tube within thecoupling. Removal of the insert permits the arcuate sections to beremoved from the flexible tube.

The invention, in another form, is directed to a row crop planterincluding a frame securable to a tractor and wheels on the frame formovement over the soil. A storage bin for seeds is mounted on the frameand a plurality of row crop units are mounted to the frame for plantingseeds in the soil. A flexible tube extends from the storage bin to theindividual row crop units for supplying seeds to each of the row cropunits. A quick coupling is secured to the flexible tube for connectingthe flexible tube to at least one of the storage bin and individual rowcrop units. The quick coupling includes an outer annular couplingelement having a quick disconnect attachment feature and a central bore.An annular insert has at least two arcuate sections connectable toprovide an outer annular surface and an inner annular surface having adiameter sized to receive the end of the flexible tube, with the annularinsert having at least one barb element formed on its interior surfaceand oriented to resist removal of the tube from the insert. The outerannular surface of the insert and the central bore of the annularcoupling element cooperate to form a detent for removable retention ofthe insert and the tube within the coupling to permit removal of theinsert from the flexible tube.

An advantage of the present invention is undamaged removal of a flexibletube from a quick coupling.

Another advantage is reuse of flexible tubes after removal from a quickcoupling.

Another advantage is to improve the physical retention and/or the airtightness of the coupling across a larger range of hose outer diameters,by allowing for inserts of different thicknesses or inserts made with aresilient material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention,and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and theinvention will be better understood by reference to the followingdescription of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a seed planter with which the quickcoupling of the present invention is used.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section view of the quick coupling used in FIG.1; and,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a component of the quick coupling ofFIG. 2.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views. The exemplification set out hereinillustrates one embodiment of the invention and such exemplification isnot to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in anymanner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there isshown a row crop planter 10 which includes a central frame 12 positionedto be secured to and towed behind a tractor or other work vehicle. Theyrow crop planter 10 includes a transversely oriented toolbar 14connected to the frame 12 and supporting a plurality of wheel assemblies16 for movement across soil. Bulk fill tanks 18 are supported on frame12 and provide the initial storage for seeds to be distributed to thesoil.

A plurality of row crop units 20 are positioned at spaced locationsalong toolbar 14. Details of the internal mechanism of the row cropunits are not discussed to enable a better understanding of theinvention. However, the row crop units open the soil to a predetermineddepth and meter, position and cover-up seeds at predetermined spacingbefore covering the seeds. A series of flexible tubes 22 extend from thebulk fill tanks 18 to the row crop units 20 and are connected to minihoppers 26 for seeds by a quick coupling 24.

In accordance with the present invention, the quick coupling 24 shown inFIGS. 2 and 3 is utilized with flexible tube 22 to enable reuse of thetube 22 after removal from the quick coupling 24. Referring specificallyto FIG. 2, the quick coupling 24 includes an outer annular couplingelement 28 which has a central bore 30. A quick disconnect attachmentfeature 32 is included into an integral expanded annular end section 34of the coupling element 28. End section 34 has a bayonet connecting slot36 which cooperates with a tubular element 38 secured to the mini hopper26. The tubular element 38 has bayonet engaging tabs 40 that cooperatewith bayonet slot 36 to enable quick installation and removal of thecoupling 24.

An annular insert 42 has arcuate half sections 44 and 46, shownspecifically in FIG. 3. The arcuate half sections 44 and 46 have outerannular surfaces 48 and 50, respectively which are sized to be receivedwithin a central bore 30 of the outer annular coupling element 28. Thearcuate half sections 44 and 46 also have inner annular surfaces 52 and54 sized to receive flexible tube 22. Annular barbs 56 and 58 areprovided on the inner annular surfaces 52 and 54 of the arcuate halves44 and 46, respectively. Annular barbs 56 and 58 have a protrusion thatextends into the outer surface of flexible tube 22 and is angled toprevent removal or movement of the tube out of the annular insert 42.While a pair of barbs 56 and 58 are shown, any number of barbs may beemployed for adequate sealing and retention. In addition, the barbs maybe eliminated and the tube 22 held by friction against annular surfaces52 and 54.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the arcuate sections 44 and 46 are joined byan integral axially extending hinge 60 that is typically used for partsmade of plastic. It should be noted however, that the arcuate halves 44and 46 may be utilized as separate pieces. Furthermore, more than twoarcuate sections may be employed in the quick coupling 24.

In order to position the end of the flexible tube 22 at a predeterminedaxial position, inward directed flanges 62 and 64 are provided at oneend of the arcuate half sections 44 and 46, respectively. Outwarddirected flanges 66 and 68 on the arcuate sections 44 and 46 provide alimit to the depth to which the insert 42 and flexible tube 22 extendinto the outer annular coupling element 28. When the arcuate sections 44and 46 are joined by an integral hinge as shown in FIG. 3, overlap edges70 and 72 are provided to enable better sealing of the annular insert42. A detent feature is provided between the outer annular couplingelement 28 and the annular insert 42 by providing an inward directedprotrusion 74 in the form of a ramp on interior bore 30 and a recess 76on the outer annular surfaces 48 and 50 of the arcuate halves 44 and 46.

In operation, the flexible tube 22 is inserted into annular insert 42against end flanges 62 and 64. Annular insert 42 is then inserted intoouter annular coupling element 28 so that the protrusion 74 is seated inrecess 76. The quick coupling attachment feature 32 may be employed toconnect flexible tube 22 to the tubular element 38. If it is necessaryto remove the tube 22, the quick coupling 24 is first disengaged fromtubular element 38. When it is necessary to remove the flexible tubefrom the quick coupling 24, it is simply pulled out axially past thedetent. The flexibility of the annular insert 42 allows the insert to beremoved from the central bore 30. Once it is removed, the arcuatesections 44 and 46 they may be removed in a radial direction so that anyoperation may be performed on the flexible tube 22 by itself. It shouldbe noted that the arrangement of the arcuate sections permits removal ofthe flexible tube 22 from the quick coupling 24 without damage to thetube 22. This greatly facilitates reuse of the tube without altering itslength.

While this invention has been described with respect to at least oneembodiment, the present invention can be further modified within thespirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is thereforeintended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the inventionusing its general principles. Further, this application is intended tocover such departures from the present disclosure as come within knownor customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains andwhich fall within the limits of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A quick coupling comprising: a flexible tubehaving an outer surface; an outer annular coupling element having aquick disconnect attachment feature and an inner surface defining acentral bore, the inner surface including a convex detent formedtherealong; and an annular insert having at least two arcuate sectionsforming an outer annular surface received within the central bore and aninner annular surface defining a cavity with a diameter sized to receivean end of the flexible tube, the inner surface including a plurality ofspaced barb elements engageable with the outer surface of the flexibletube for retaining the end of the flexible tube within the cavity of theannular insert, the annular insert including a groove on the outersurface thereof; wherein the convex detent formed along the innersurface of the outer annular coupling is engageable with the groove ofthe outer annular surface of the annular insert for removably retainingthe annular insert within the central bore of the outer annular couplingelement, wherein a space is formed on each side of the convex detent andits corresponding groove when the detent engages the groove in anengaged position, in the engaged position the space is formed betweenthe outer annular coupling element and the annular insert, such that theonly contact between the outer annular coupling element and the annularinsert is via the engagement of the convex detent and the groove,wherein each barb element comprises an annular rib with a pointedprotrusion angled to hold the flexible tube in place, such that eachbarb element is positioned against an outer surface of the flexible tubewhen the annular insert and the flexible tube are in an engagedposition, and wherein a space is formed on each side of each barbelement between the annular insert and the flexible tube, wherein thequick disconnect attachment feature is a bayonet coupling comprisingmale tabs and female slots, and wherein in the engaged position, an apexof the convex detent is positioned between the plurality of spaced barbelements and the apex abuts the deepest portion of the groove.
 2. Thequick coupling as claimed in claim 1, wherein the annular insert isdefined by first and second arcuate sections.
 3. The quick coupling asclaimed in claim 2, wherein the first and second arcuate sections areconnected by an axially directed hinge.
 4. The quick coupling as claimedin claim 3, wherein the first and second arcuate sections have edgesremote from the hinge, and the edges of the first and second arcuatesections overlap.
 5. The quick coupling as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe plurality of barbs cooperate to hold the flexible tube in an engagedposition against the annular insert for removably retaining the flexibletube within the central bore of the annular insert, the plurality ofspaced barb elements of the annular insert engageable with the outersurface of the flexible tube and configured to press into the flexibletube to form recesses in the outer surface of the flexible tube whileengaged with the flexible tube.
 6. The quick coupling as claimed inclaim 5, wherein one side of each barb element is configured to form aright angle and an opposite side of each barb element is configured toform a sloping obtuse angle to form the pointed protrusion.
 7. The quickcoupling as claimed in claim 1, wherein in the convex detent is a rampformed on the central bore of the annular coupling and projectinginward, the annular insert having a recessed section around its outerperiphery for receiving the convex detent.